As Michigan native Barbra Lubic began to see the crime and unemployment rate increase in her community, she decided to stand up and make a difference. In this segment, watch Lubic as she helps an entire community simply by offering ice cream and books to children.

Lion Habitat Ranch, Nevada – Indie America

For years Keith Evans has brought his lions daily to the MGM Grand, where they were an attraction for tourist and locals. Now the lions live leisurely at Evans’ ranch south of Las Vegas. The Lion Habitat Ranch is open for visitors of all ages. The owners hope that it will become an attraction that pays for itself one day. In the meantime, it’s a labor of love.

Professor of Scrounge, Texas – Indie America

One man’s trash is another man’s living. Jeff Ferrell is a professor of sociology and criminology, author of numerous books including “Cultural Criminology” and “Empire of Scrounge” and an avid dumpster diver. For Ferrell, combing the trash around Forth Worth, Texas for recyclables and reusable items is more than a hobby, it’s a way of life.

There is always something new coming out of the woodworks in Austin, Texas. Here at KLRU we’re celebrating this hallmark with a brand new series shot in this beautiful, creative city.

Stand Up Empire chronicles the white-hot stand up comedy scene currently exploding in the “live music capital of the world”. Co-Creators Brently Heilbron & Mike Wilson bring you a mix of intimate interviews and tight stand up comedy sets by Austin’s brightest rising stars. The show will air Sundays on KLRU Q.

Stand Up Empire aims to showcase the household names of the future, as well as document their incredibly diverse backgrounds, their motivations, commitment to comedy, and definitions of success.

Featured in each episode is a segment called “Snapshot” which aims to showcase a unique person, business, organization, or entity, and their connection to the Austin comedy scene. The show is hosted by comedic veteran Brently Heilbron and produced & directed by Austin filmmaker Christopher Shea.

With “Cosmic Vida,” an exhibition at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center, curator Raul Valdez gave visitors a glimpse into the cosmos.

“Cosmic Vida” is the first show Valdez curated in more than a decade. An artist himself, he curated the collection after he realized he could not produce enough work to fill up the space himself. The exhibition, which is no longer on display, juxtaposed dynamic and subdued pieces. With artworks of various mediums, colors, sizes and imagery, he explored the literal and symbolic meaning of the exhibit’s title.

Valdez hoped the audience was inspired to make their own interpretations on the universal experiences of La Raza, the human race.

“You can see the chicano in it, but you can also see the universal part,” Valdez said

Evan Voyles builds signs to last generations. Voyles is the sovereign sign-maker of South Congress – he hand-created and repurposed vintage signs for Magnolia Cafe, Homeslice, Soul, Stag, Creatures, Turquoise Door, Lucy’s Fried Chicken, Perla’s, Wahoo’s Fish Taco, Yard Dog and Uncommon Objects, the last two going on 20 years of age. Voyles started on his craft as a vintage neon sign collector and began to build signs when clients asked for specialized styles. Most recently, Voyles faced one of his biggest challenges yet: a 50-foot-tall replica of a 1952 Fender Telecaster for Austin Vintage Guitars. His personal artistry is on full display as he creates a new iconic masterpiece.

He remains the only person in American history to have served as governor of two states. As if that were not résumé building enough, he was also a U.S. Representative, a U.S. Senator, president of a republic he helped found; became a citizen of, married into and held leadership positions in the Cherokee Nation, taught at the first and oldest school in Tennessee, was a protégé of an American President and in line for that office as well as the General of an Army that won one of the most
decisive and historically significant battles in American History. “It’s an epic life, worthy of an epic telling, and the documentary Sam Houston does just that — told in a beautiful way that is historically dead on” says Mac Woodward, Huntsville Mayor and Director of The Sam Houston Memorial Museum in that city. He was an 1800s American statesman, politician, soldier, provocateur and rabble-rouser of enormous stature, even by the outsized standards of early Texas. Yet remarkably little is known about him. Texas school children are exposed to his life and accomplishments in the 4th and 7th grades but there have been few modern resources to bring these events to life … until now.

With never before seen images, original works of art, dozens of scenes filmed on location, period reenactments, interviews with governors, senators,
historians and family members and consistently compelling story-telling, Sam Houston: American Statesman, Soldier, And Pioneer tells the epic story of
the life of Sam Houston from his birth in Virginia to his death in Texas. Sam Houston is the first full-length documentary on the life of this towering political,
military and frontier leader and comes to KLRU for three consecutive Thursday nights, July 11, 18 and 25th at 9pm.

Last week was an historic week in Texas: an 11-hour filibuster by State Sen. Wendy Davis drew national attention, and two Supreme Court cases with deep ties to Texas were decided. In light of the recent news, KLRU aired a special thirty minute news and analysis program Friday evening called The Texas Rundown. The program was aired statewide, in cooperation with Texas PBS.

Between the end of the Legislative special session and two Supreme Court rulings with major Texas ties, this has been a busy news week. As your public television station we feel it is our duty to be a source of trust worthy information so we are putting together a special news program called The Texas Rundown that will air Friday 6/28 at 7:30p recapping the news of the week.

Committed to presenting the arts to Austin, KLRU continues to showcase its dedication to innovative artistry and creative communities with a new episode of Arts In Context featuring Marfa, Texas, called The Light and The Land.

This episode explores the remote Texas city of Marfa, which attracts visitors including, those interested in literary pursuits, fine arts and the metaphysical. Known for its mysterious lights, colorful characters, ranching roots and tourism, Marfa is fast becoming a thriving and eclectic creative community. Arts in Context looks at what made the Trans-Pecos town nestled near Big Bend National Park the destination it is today.

The show airs on Thursday, July 28, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, June 31, at 4 p.m. on KLRU.

Civic Summit: 2012 Senate Race airs tonight (6/23) at 7:30pm. This co-production with the Texas Tribune features the four leading GOP politicians who have announced their intentions to run for the Texas U.S. Senate seat being left by Kay Bailey Hutchinson.

If you’re unable to catch the broadcast the entire program can be viewed online.

Join KLRU and United Way Capital Area for a special film screening and discussion on education issues in Austin on Thursday, January 28, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. in KLRU’s Austin City Limits Studio 6A. RSVP here. Light hors d’oeuvres and beverages provided.

Jason Sabo from United Ways of Texas will moderate a discussion on whether the Austin community is investing enough in education. Panelists will include:

Dr. Michael Marder from University of Texas UTeach project

Liliana Ary from Univision Radio

Clayton Christopher from Sweet Leaf Tea and a student he is mentoring through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas

The discussion will take place immedately after a screening of It All Adds Up. This documentary, produced by Academy Award-winning director Sue Marx, focuses on the academic enrichment and mentoring program called Math Corps. The film features engaging and heart-warming interviews with alumni and current campers who testify to the life-changing impact of this project. RSVP here.